Kasich scraps with audience member at N.H. town hall

PLYMOUTH, N.H. — Ohio Gov. John Kasich tangled Tuesday with a potential voter here who needled him for supporting the federal process that led to the closure of New Hampshire’s Pease Air Force Base in 1991.

While he was explaining the controversial decision to shutter the base, an audience member at Kasich’s town hall event said something inaudible that seemed to rile Kasich. Kasich flashed a quick glance at the man and asked whether he had worked at the base. The man shook his head. Then Kasich turned to him and stepped directly in front of the man, who was seated in the front row.

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“You think that I’m going to tell you that I’m going to suck up to you?” he said. “I’m not going to do that. You don’t have to vote for me. Nobody has to. I’m not going to tell you fables; I’m not going to tell you fairy tales."

The man sat stoically with his arms crossed as Kasich spoke to him. The audience applauded Kasich’s answer.

“I’ve got two little girls at home,” Kasich said, adding, “You know what I want them to do? I want them to respect and love their daddy.”

The man, who later identified himself as Paul Sheelan — a Massachusetts resident who said he owns property in New Hampshire — told POLITICO he appreciated the governor’s answer.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the facility that closed in 1991. It was the Pease Air Force Base. Pease Air National Guard Base still operates on the site of the now-defunct Air Force Base.

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this story showed a picture of John Kasich with a woman at the New Hampshire event. The woman pictured was not the person who Kasich confronted.